Corruption is hindering ADP implementation, says planning minister

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has acknowledged that the people do not receive benefits of the government's annual development programme (ADP) because of corruption.

"We spend Tk 800 billion on the ADP. Where does the money go? How many years does it take to change the face of the country?" he said at a discussion in Dhaka on Thursday.

"There's corruption and waster too. Moreover, we often fail to take decisions at the right time.

"This is the reason why the country is not getting benefits of government spending," he added.

Allegations of irregularities over ADP allocations have been raised for a long time. However, in the last few years, over 90 percent of the ADP has been implemented.

"It's not that development works are not being done. But it's done at a slow pace," Kamal said.

The MP from Comilla cited expansion work of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway into four-lane as an example of the snail-paced work.

He stated there were many reasons for this.

"But they are okay now. We hope to finish it soon.”

The planning minister said Bangladesh could have prospered further if it had proper infrastructure.

"We haven't been able to excavate coals even after 40 years of independence. There's a stock of coal worth $47 billion.

"Despite suffering from power crisis, we have been unable to decide on a way to extract coal due to various reasons," he added.

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan emphasised political stability for development.

He came down heavily on the civil society.

"The civil society is a very important factor for stability," Mannan said as he looked towards Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gonoshasthaya Kendro.

"But they live in the cities while 80 percent of the people live in villages. They have no communication with the civil society."

Mannan added: "They (the civil society) call us (the politicians) adversaries of the people. But we go to the people.

"The people are on the government's side. [They are] giving positive opinion about the government."